Arthur John GAY

Regimental number660
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
AddressCompany Street, Semaphore, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 8.75"
Next of kinMother, Mrs E.L. Gay, Company Street, Semaphore, South Australia
Previous military serviceRoyal Australian Naval Reserve: still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date27 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll14 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, Signallers
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. Those who enlisted in Western Australia embarked at Fremantle (date not recorded).
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 17 November 1919
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Ellen Louise GAY. Plaque in South Australian Garden of Remembrance.
Discharge date11 September 1920
Other details

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Found guilty, 20 March 1916, of failing to keep his rifle clean: awarded 7 days' confined to camp.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Promoted Lance Corporal, 22 September 1916.

Promoted Temporary Corporal, 2 December 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 1 January 1917.

On leave to England, 17 May 1917; rejoined unit, 3 June 1917.

Wounded in action and admitted to No 14 Australian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No 4 Casualty Clearing Station, 24 April 1918 (gassed, lethal); to No 37 Ambulance Train, 24 April 1918; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 25 April 1918; to No 72 General Hospital, Trouville, 2 May 1918; to No 1 Australian Convalescent Depot, Le Havre, 29 June 1918; marched in Australian Intermediate Base Depot, 12 July 1918.

Rejoined 32nd Bn, in the field, 16 July 1918.

On leave to England, 23 August 1918; rejoined 32nd Bn, 10 September 1918.

Transferred to, and taken on strength of Administrative Headquarters, London, 13 December 1918.

Promoted to Extra Regimental Sergeant, 1 August 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HMAT 'Port Macquaire', 17 November 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 14 January 1920; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), Adelaide, 11 September 1920.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Death attributed to War Service.
Date of death26 August 1939
Age at death43
Place of burialCheltenham Cemetery, South Australia
SourcesNAA: B2455, GAY Arthur John